Month: October 2013

Kathmandu, October 4, 2013 – Today World Animal Day was celebrated in style with a Walk for Animals. Organised by Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN), the walkathon attracted over 200 participants. While raising funds for Animal Nepal’s outreach work, the participants called for a halt to animal cruelty in Nepal.

The walk was from Basantapur Durbar Square to Patan Durbar Square, a distance of 6.5 km. Despite the drizzling rain, the participants had fun showing their playcards and shouting slogans.

AWNN awarded four persons as “Local Animal Welfare Hero” as a respect to them towards their commitment to helping animals. ournalist Krishna Mani Baral, from Pokhara based Animal Rights Nepal, received an award. Among those awarded for looking after suffering dogs were family Limbu from Baisepati, Lalitpur, Bishwo Maskey from Boudha and Ram Byanjankar and Indu Manandhar from Kupondole.

A flash mob danced to Michael Jackson’s song “They don’t care about us” while a giant panda danced to his own music.

In a closing remark, Manoj Gautam, President of AWNN, said: “We are living in a world where every animals has equal rights to live in harmony and peace. To achieve this goal we should all be responsible to them like we are for our families and friends”.

Pramada Shah from Animal Nepal requested all participants to unchain their pet.

Lalitpur, September 28, 2013 – in order to celebrate World Rabies Day, Animal Nepal each year organises a mass awareness and vaccination camp in Patan, Lalitpur. In total 52 dogs were vaccinated. Out of them 26 were female and 9 were spayed.

This year our team conducted free vaccinations and information camp at Patan Durbar Square. The program has started from 8 am to 11:30. AN team distributes awareness materials related to rabies. People from local community help us to find and catch dogs for vaccination. After the information camp we went to nearby area to find dogs and vaccinated them. Mainly we focused for streets dogs though some of private dogs were vaccinated.

Dobighat, September 24, 2013 – Animal Nepal has launched a campaign to retire zoo elephant Pawankali. The loyal working elephant is now 65 and her eye sight is decreasing. Mr. Juddha Bahadur Gurung, Member Secretary of Nepal Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), promised to retire Pawankali.

Representatives from Animal Nepal handed over a letter to NTNC and the zoo earlier this month.

While in India working elephants retire at the age of 58, Nepal yet has to introduce welfare rules for jumbos. This despite the fact that over 200 working elephants are used to conduct safaris and anti poaching activities,

Pawankali arrived in the Central Zoo at the age of 30, where she is used for safaris and put on hire for functions. the loyal jumbo served the zoo for over 35 years. She lives alone and is chained when not working. Apart from a tin roof, she has no shelter.

In the letter Animal Nepal writes: “Pawankali deserves to be retired, and to be allowed to live the remains of her days in comfort.” Animal Nepal urges the government to issue welfare standards and to open a retirement home for aging working animals.

Mr Gurung said his organisation is looking to retire Pawankali. Animal Nepal appreciates the decision by NTNC but strongly disagrees with replacing Pawankali with a younger elephant. “We urge you to follow the example of India and various other countries, and end the presence of elephantsin the Central Zoo,” urges the organisation.

The letter can be read here. Please sign this petition to end the presence of elephants in the Central Zoo.